This pathway, when stimulated by palmitic acid ester-induced ER stress in hepatocytes, could promote steatosis by enhancing the expression of GADD153 or C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP), reducing the secretion of apolipoprotein B, and leading to the accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in hepatocytes (Guo et al., 2022). This evidence concerns the gene DDIT3 and steatosis.